‘I was fighting for my life’: Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls flydubai cockpit attack

Smit Machchhar says in call with Indian PM that he realised if he did not get up ‘passengers would lose their lives’ The Indian pilot who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv said his faith and his desire to save his passengers allowed him to make a “last push” to open the cockpit door as he fought for his life. Capt Smit Machchhar, who was recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, described to India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, how he helped save the plane and its more than 170 passengers.